3868 Mendoza
Stony Vestian binary asteroid discovered in 1960.
3868 Mendoza (provisional designation 4575 P-L) is a stony asteroid from the inner asteroid belt, classified as a Vestian and a binary system. It measures roughly 9 kilometers across. The object was discovered on 24 September 1960 by Cornelis Johannes van Houten, Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld, and Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory.
Mendoza follows an orbit between 2.1 and 2.6 AU from the Sun, completing one revolution every 3 years and 7 months (1,302 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 8° relative to the ecliptic.
A minor-planet moon was detected in 2009. This satellite is about 2.01±0.18 kilometers in diameter and orbits Mendoza in just over a day.
The survey designation "P-L" refers to the Palomar–Leiden survey, a collaboration between Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory in the 1960s. Gehrels used the Samuel Oschin telescope (the 48-inch Schmidt) at Palomar, and the photographic plates were sent to the van Houtens at Leiden for astrometric analysis. The trio are credited with discovering thousands of asteroids.
Data from NASA's WISE and NEOWISE surveys indicate Mendoza's diameter ranges from 8.628 to 9.351 kilometers, with an albedo between 0.1621 and 0.436. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link, using Petr Pravec's revised WISE data, gives an albedo of 0.1649 and a rounded diameter of 9.40 kilometers, with an absolute magnitude of 12.71.
The asteroid was named for Mexican astronomer Eugenio Mendoza (born 1928), a specialist in photometry and spectroscopy, IAU member, and teacher at several Mexican universities. The naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 September 1993 (M.P.C. 22499).
Quick Facts
- Minorplanet
- yes
- Background
- #D6D6D6
- Discovered
- 24 September 1960
- Discoverer
- C. J. van Houten / I. van Houten G. / T. Gehrels
- Discovery Site
- Palomar Obs.
- Mpc Name
- (3868) Mendoza
- Named After
- Eugenio Mendoza / (Mexican astronomer)
- Mp Category
- main-beltVesta
- Epoch
- 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
- Uncertainty
- 0
- Observation Arc
- 62.81 yr (22,941 days)
- Aphelion
- 2.5649 AU
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
3868 Mendoza orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.1–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,302 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic. In 2009, a minor-planet moon was discovered; the satellite measures 2.01±0.18 km in diameter and orbits Mendoza in a little more than a day. The survey designation 'P-L' stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden Observatory where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand asteroid discoveries.
Reader's Guide
According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Mendoza measures between 8.628 and 9.351 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.1621 and 0.436. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link adopts Petr Pravec's revised WISE data, that is, an albedo of 0.1649 and a rounded diameter of 9.40 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 12.71. This minor planet was named in honor of Mexican astronomer Eugenio Mendoza (born 1928), expert in photometry and spectroscopy, member of the IAU and teacher at several Mexican universities. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 September 1993 (M.P.C. 22499). The asteroid's binary nature, discovered in 2009, adds to its scientific interest as one of many small bodies with satellites.
Did You Know?
- 3868 Mendoza is a binary system with a moon discovered in 2009.
- The satellite is 2.01±0.18 km in diameter and orbits the primary in a little more than a day.
- Its provisional designation 4575 P-L comes from the Palomar–Leiden survey collaboration.
- The asteroid was named after Mexican astronomer Eugenio Mendoza, born in 1928.
More in Notable Asteroids, Part 2 1-24
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